Covariation Model
Definition
The covariation model is a theory in social psychology that explains how we make judgements about the causes of other people's behavior. We try to figure out why someone did something by looking at whether that behavior co-varies with certain information. We consider three main types of information: consensus, distinctiveness, and consistency.
- Consensus: Do other people behave the same way in the same situation? (High consensus = many people do it; Low consensus = only this person does it)
- Distinctiveness: Does this person behave this way only in this situation, or do they behave this way in many different situations? (High distinctiveness = behavior is unique to this situation; Low distinctiveness = behavior is consistent across situations)
- Consistency: Has this person behaved this way in this situation before? (High consistency = the behavior has happened repeatedly; Low consistency = the behavior is a one-time occurrence)
We tend to make different attributions depending on the patterns we see in these three areas. For example, if behavior is low in all three (low consensus, low distinctiveness, high consistency), we’re likely to attribute it to the person's personality or character. Conversely, if behavior is high in all three, we’re likely to attribute it to the situation.
Example
In a class. a student consistently interrupts the
professor to ask off-topic questions.
- Consensus: You notice no one else interrupts the professor like that. (Low consensus)
- Distinctiveness: The student is generally well-behaved in all your other classes, It only happens in this class. (Low distinctiveness)
- Consistency: The student has interrupted the professor multiple times throughout the semester. (High consistency)
Based on these observations (low consensus, low distinctiveness, high consistency), the covariation model suggests you’d likely attribute the student's behavior to her personality. Maybe she is naturally disruptive, or she dislikes this particular professor. You wouldn’t think it's a common behavior in this class or that she's generally rude in all situations. If, however,
everyone was interrupting the professor (high consensus), it would suggest the professor might be unclear or encouraging interruption, and you’d attribute the behavior to the situation.
Why it Matters
Understanding the covariation model is important because it reveals how easily we can make incorrect assumptions about other people’s behavior. We are often biased towards making dispositional attributions (assuming it’s about them), even when situational factors are likely at play. This is partly because we tend to focus on the person rather than the situation, and we don't always notice or seek out information about consensus and distinctiveness. Recognizing the influence of consensus, distinctiveness, and consistency helps us be more thoughtful and accurate in our explanations of others’ actions and reduces the likelihood of making hasty or inaccurate conclusions about their character.